Battle of Kula Gulf

USS Honolulu firing during the night bombardment of Japanese positions at Vila, on Kolombangara, and Munda, on New Georgia, May 13, 1943.

USS Strong (DD-467), sunk in the first clash in Kula Gulf on July 5, 1943, a day before the battle.

USS Honolulu in 1942.

USS Helena.

USS Helena (CL-50), in the center, firing during the Battle of Kula Gulf, just before she was torpedoed and sunk on July 6, 1943. The next ship astern is USS Saint Louis (CL-49). Photographed from USS Honolulu (CL-48).

USS Honolulu, at left, returning from the Battle of Kula Gulf, at 0810 hrs on 6 July 1943. Also visible are USS St. Louis (right) and a Fletcher class destroyer. Photographed from USS Nicholas.

USS Radford with survivors of the cruiser USS Helena on deck after the night surface engagement off Kula Gulf, 5-6 July 1943.

Commander Charles Lorain Carpenter, the Helen's navigator (center right with moustache), after being rescued with some other crew members. This was after the cruiser USS Helena was sunk in the Kula Gulf, Solomon Islands.

The Reverend A. W. E. Silvester, Methodist missionary on Vella Lavella, helped hide 165 survivors from the Helena for eight days until they were rescued.

Survivors from the USS Helena, sunk during the Battle of Kula Gulf on July 6, 1943, line-up for new clothes and gear on Tulagi after their rescue from Vella Lavella.

Japanese Destroyer Nagatsuki aground and destroyed at Kolombangara on July 6, 1943, photographed May 8, 1944.